The lockout is over. The NBA season for 2011/12 has been saved and come Christmas Day we can look forward to a condensed 66 game sprint to the finish line. How will the teams cope with a rushed training camp and free agency period not to mention a shortened season that contains more back to back games than ever before? The Marshalltown casts its eye over the forthcoming season and tells you who will be challenging, who will slip and who has no prayer.

In this second installment The Marshalltown breaks down the Eastern Conference.

To read the Marshalltown’s preview of the Western Conference in Part 1 click here

The Contenders

Boston

Does anyone know what’s happening in Boston? A team with an ageing squad that was run

ragged by an athletic Miami Heat decides to put its most exciting young player and future team leader on the trading block? You read that right. Boston put Rajon Rondo on the block in order to reinvigorate its squad. It defies logic. Celtic supremo Danny Ainge is risking alienating his best young player by waving Rondo around as bait to other GMs around the league. Things could become very awkward in the Boston dressing room when a trade does not materialise.

Heading into 2011/12, Boston is stuck between a rock and a hard place. The Celtics know that they need an injection of youth and athleticism if they’re going to keep up with the Bulls and the Heat, however the huge contracts of their big three, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, are millstones that are preventing them from altering their squad.

Boston’s best case scenario is that Rondo develops a reliable jump shot to go with his passing ability and the Big Three are carefully managed through the season so that they have enough juice left in the tank to make one last playoff run.

Boston’s worst case scenario is that teams continue to sag off Rondo because he can’t hit consistently hit the jumper and the Big Three are exhausted come play off time that they’re relying on wheelchairs to get up and down the court.

A deep playoff run would be a fitting end to an excellent Boston team that probably should have won two titles instead of just one but sadly fairy tales don’t often come true.

Prediction: The C’s will fight and scrap hard but their creaking bones will be blown away in the playoffs by either Chicago or Miami, signalling the end of the KG era in Boston.

Chicago

Let’s do a quick checklist:

Reigning League MVP? Check.

Best record in the East for 2010/11? Check.

Eastern Conference Finalist? Check.

So why aren’t people making more noise about Chicago as title challengers?

The simple reason is that basketball is a team sport that requires at least a couple of strong, clutch players in order to be successful and right now the Bulls are strictly a one man team. As electrifying as Derrick Rose is, it isn’t fair to expect him to carry his hometown to the title single handed.

Despite entering last season’s playoffs in red hot form, Chicago’s game plan of giving Rose the ball and having the other four players get out of his way was quickly found out in the post-season. A mediocre Atlanta team gave the Bulls a serious scare in the semis before the Miami Heat crushed them in the conference finals.

Having a one man show in the regular season is all fine and dandy but it’s not going to work in the fire of playoff basketball, no matter how good the one man is. It’s no coincidence that Jordan didn’t win a ring until he could trust Pippen, same goes for Shaq and Kobe, Bird and McHale etc.

If the Bulls are going to take that next step, they need to find a sidekick for D.Rose. Someone who can take some of the scoring load off Rose’s shoulders and slow down the double team. So far Carlos Boozer has failed to live up to the lucrative contract he was given when he signed from Utah and needs to step up after a dismal playoffs. The Bulls have made a smart move by signing Rip Hamilton to fill the role of reliable outside shooter. This will space the floor and prevent opponents from clogging the lane, allowing more room for Rose to operate in.

Bulls management have also made noises about trading for Dwight Howard, who would be a perfect fit in Chicago but strangely Howard has been unreceptive about a move to the United Center.

As it stands right now, Chicago is a strong play off team. In Derrick Rose, Chicago has a franchise player to build around but until the Bulls are able to find a couple more pieces to assist him, it’s hard to see Chicago overcoming the big three of Miami.

Prediction: The Bulls will make the Eastern Conference finals for the second straight year but unless they find a player/s to adequately support Derrick Rose, Miami will be too much to handle.

Miami

If you enjoyed watching the self-hyped Miami Heat crash and burn in the Finals last season, you definitely weren’t alone. The NBA hasn’t had such a loathed team of villains since the Detroit Bad Boys of the 80s and unless you were from South Beach, you took smug satisfaction in seeing LeBron James repeatedly choke in those fourth quarters.

The bad news? James, Wade and Bosh made the Finals at their first attempt, despite needing more than half a season to gel together and learn each other’s game. Now, finally comfortable with their teammates, they’re entering their second season and can only be expected to improve. Miami could still use an upgrade at the point (Chauncey Billups or Baron Davis would have been potentially good signings) but there is little competition for the Heat in the Eastern conference. Boston are too old, while the Bulls are too reliant on the dynamic D.Rose. It’s championship or bust for Miami’s big three.

Prediction: A Finals appearance seems a certainty for Miami as their athleticism and offensive power will overwhelm the Eastern contenders. Whether or not James can finally shake his finals hoodoo is another question…

New York

The NBA season must be getting close to tip off because we’re hearing the annual tradition of New York talking up their prospects. Coach Mike D’Antoni has already announced that the Knicks are “obvious” contenders for the championship but underneath all the bluster it’s clear that the Knicks aren’t in the same bracket as Miami or Chicago in the East or Dallas and Oklahoma in the West. Superstar forwards Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire will rack up the points but are serious liabilities at the defensive end. The arrival of Tyson Chandler should help alleviate some of that defensive pressure, however the Knicks are desperately thin in the backcourt. The decision to waive point guard Chauncey Billups is a head scratcher since New York so clearly lacks passers to run the floor. New York have some nice pieces but still have too many holes to be a serious title threat. The Knicks will play exciting and entertaining basketball but will struggle to contain more complete teams like Miami, Chicago and Boston in the playoffs.

Prediction: Playoffs- Second round. With coach Mike D’Antoni in the last year of his contract, the pressure will be turned up to eleven. When D’Antoni’s all offense gameplan is found wanting against better organised teams expect the calls for the legendary Phil Jackson to take the reins reach deafening levels. A hero’s return to New York for Phil Jackson in 2012/13 is a distinct possibility should the fire still burn within the 11 time championship coach.

The Also Rans

Orlando

You think Denver had it rough last year with the Melo-Drama affair that engulfed their entire club? Well, get ready for “Dwight Flight” (coined by the Marshalltown) to rip Orlando apart in 2011/12. For the past seven years Dwight Howard has been the heart and soul of the Magic but as Orlando drifts further and further away from title contention, Howard has announced his desire to leave the Magic in order to win the title he so desperately craves. It’s not hard to sympathise with Howard; he has been a superstar player for the Magic but after a series of bad decisions by Orlando’s management that have resulted in sub par players and their expensive contracts (Gilbert Arenas and Hedo Türko?lu among others) arriving in central Florida, Orlando’s quest for a maiden title seems like a lost cause. Howard correctly feels that his best interests lie elsewhere if he actually wants to win something.

The Magic find themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place. Orlando maintains hope of persuading Howard to resign but if he isn’t traded before the deadline they risk losing him for nothing in the summer when he becomes a free agent.

In the meantime the intense media scrutiny of Dwight Flight and the uncertainty of losing the most dominant big man in the NBA will take its toll on Orlando. The Magic will make the playoffs by virtue of being in a weak Eastern conference but the longer the issue of Dwight Flight hangs over the city, Orlando will fall deeper into turmoil. Orlando’s best option is to cash in and find a suitable trade that will give them the best chance to quickly rebuild their team.

Prediction: First round playoff exit and Howard to sign with either the Lakers or the soon to be Brooklyn Nets before the trade deadline, although Chicago looms as a potential dark horse by offering the possibility of immediate success. If Howard is a free agent in 2012, Dallas will make a huge play for him as they will have the cap space to fit him into what is already a strong squad.

Indiana

With the media focused on Miami’s quest for vindication, Boston’s collective effort to

reverse the ageing process, the dynamism of Derrick Rose and unfolding Dwight Flight saga, the Indiana Pacers have quietly assembled a young, talented team that could turn a few heads.

Indiana were beaten 4 – 1 by the Bulls in the first round of the playoffs last year but that score card belies just how hard the Pacers pushed Chicago in that series. That playoff experience will hold the Pacers’ young core in good stead for this season.

Already in possession of an exciting back court in Darren Collison and Paul George, the arrival of David West from New Orleans will reinforce a front court of Roy Hibbert and Tyler Hansbrough that has already shown glimpses of serious potential.

Prediction: In nearly every season there’s always a team that catches everyone off guard. Indiana looms as this season’s surprise packet. Playoffs second round.

Philadelphia 76ers

Last season’s record of 41-41 and a subsequent post-season pasting from a Miami team that didn’t even need to get out of second gear, makes Philadelphia the embodiment of average. Expect more of the same in 2011/12 though the Sixers will hope that Jrue Holiday continues to take steps toward becoming a legitimate superstar in this league.

Prediction: Will fall into the 8th seed. As you were.

New Jersey Nets

An intriguing year of transition and possibilities looms for the Nets. This time next year they’ll be playing in Brooklyn which is exciting for a franchise that has been treading water for some time.. For this season, the Nets need to demonstrate they’re moving in the right direction on the court if they’re going to ensure that star point guard Deron Williams commits his future to the club. If the Nets can make the playoffs they can be relatively pleased with their efforts but if they can make the playoffs and sign Dwight Howard, all of Brooklyn’s Christmas dreams will have come true.

Prediction: The Nets will make the playoffs and Williams will commit long term. At this stage no one knows where Howard will land but right now the Nets appear to be in the box seat.

Atlanta Hawks

Upsetting Orlando in the play offs last season was a fine achievement for Atlanta, however they will be hard pressed to improve on that in 2011/12. Losing Jamal Crawford is a blow and there isn’t a player on the Hawks roster right now that seems set to break out and push Atlanta up the food chain.

Prediction: Will win around half their games and squeeze into the 7th playoff seed before being roundly dismissed by one of the alpha dogs of the Eastern conference.

The Rabble

Charlotte Bobcats

It’s hard to imagine anything owned by Michael Jordan could possibly suck, but this Bobcats outfit really sucks. A black hole of a franchise that seems completely devoid of hope for this season or in the future.

Milwaukee Bucks

Average team stuck in the middle of the road. Brandon Jennings has loads of flair and potential but unless centre Andrew Bogut can return to his 2009/10 form prior to injuring his elbow, the Bucks won’t be doing anything of note this season.

Prediction: 20-25 wins and no playoffs.

Washington Wizards

The rebuild that began last season with the arrival of rookie point guard John Wall, will continue in 2011/12. Wall will provide occasional moments of powerful brilliance and give hope to long suffering Washingtonians that the Wizards might be able to contend in a few years time with John Wall as the franchise piece.

Prediction: If the Wizards win more than 15 games this season, they’ve overachieved.

Cleveland Cavaliers

A 26 game losing streak and the worst record in the Eastern conference capped off a horror 18 months for the Cavs since LeBron James decided to take his talents to South Beach. The arrival of Number 1 draft pick, Kyrie Irving and Number 4 pick Tristan Thompson, offer a glimpse of light at the end of a very bleak tunnel but the Cavs are still on course for another season of pain.

Prediction: Will battle it out with the rest of the rabble for the worst record in the league. If either Irving or Thompson show enough to suggest that they have what it takes to lead this team going forward, Cleveland will be delighted.

Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors

The Marshalltown could provided a detailed statistical analysis of Detroit and Toronto, but who wants to read it? Here’s all you need to know about these two sorry clubs- imagine the biggest pile of crap sitting in your living room then times it by 10. Now you have an idea of what Detroit and Toronto are offering this season. Both squads are comprised of journeymen, duds and worst of all, terrible, underperforming players like Charlie Villanueva who have some how landed mega dollar contracts that would make a prostitute blush.

Prediction: Pain and misery of biblical proportions. Along with Charlotte and Washington they’re dumpster diving in the hope that they can land the number 1 draft pick in 2012.